Brunswick Valley Historical Society Inc.

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The Local Rag

‘Mullumbimby’ was the word on everyone’s lips as Her Majesty the Cow led the moribund place out of the 1890s Depression, enriching local paddocks and pockets with her golden pats. By the early 1900s Mullum was a boom town, prompting the Australian Town and Country Journal to note on 25Oct1905 that The growth of Mullumbimby… has been amazingly rapid, and it seems almost incredible as one stands in the centre of this compact town containing a population of 550 souls, that only a few years ago there existed dense scrub, where now are banks, stores, hotels, and representatives of nearly every class of profession and trade… except journalism.

But amongst the many southerners making the pilgrimage north to partake of the cow’s bountiful blessings was Anglican Joseph Henry Plowright (1859 Bombala – 1929 Newcastle) who had established the ‘Delegate Argus and Border Post’ in 1895 after completing his apprenticeship at the ‘Bombala Herald’ and ‘Bombala Times’, the latter founded by Robert Burgess, father of Alfred of the ‘Byron Bay Record’. Plowright launched his 3d weekly, ‘The Mullumbimby Star and Brunswick Banner’, on 4Nov1905, making it the 11th newspaper servicing the Richmond-Tweed region. He initially operated from an office in Burringbar Street until finding a new home in Stuart Street, Looking North along Stuart ~1907. Mullum Star office under bullnosing beyond the stables behind the ES&A Bank on the left. ES&A Bank housed in two-storey Nelson Building at intersection with Burringbar, destroyed by fire 2Jun1908. corner of Stuart and Burringbar.

Anglican Alfred Christopher Burgess (1871 Singleton – 1938 Bega), who had introduced his 3d Byron weekly in Sep1902, welcomed the new competition like the arrival of the plague, compounded by the appearance of Anglican Frank Walter Vincent's four-page ‘Bangalow Herald and Newrybar Advertiser’ in Apr1907, making 13 newspapers now servicing the region (after Frank’s brother, Ernest Lloyd Vincent, had come from Uralla to launch the ‘Kyogle Examiner’ in Nov1906). All of which persuaded the ‘Northern Star’, the leading regional rag currently publishing 3 editions per week at 3d a copy, to become a Daily wef 1Jul1907 and drop its price to an extraordinary 1d. But this didn’t deter Episcopalians D.M. Campbell & Son of the ‘Braidwood Express’ from carting their plant to Alstonville to launch the ‘Alstonville and Rous Record’ in Feb1908, now making 15 newspapers ministering to the sectarian souls of Cowland. [The 14th was the Catholic ‘North Coast Daily News’ introduced to Lismore May1907. (Refresh your memory in the story of J.B. Kelly of Tyagarah at https://www.mullumbimbymuseum.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/81.-Newsletter-February-2019.pdf)].

Frank Vincent, late of the ‘Bundarra and Tingha Advocate’, only lasted 2mths, selling out to Methodist George Nicklin of the ‘Tweed Herald and Brunswick Chronicle’ in Jun1907 to acquire the ‘Boggabri Examiner’ via a stint at the family’s ‘Uralla Times’. Nicklin, who appointed local ex-school teacher Lemuel Chester Snow as manager/editor, lasted a little over 15mths, offloading to Presbyterian David Millar of the ‘Deniliquin Chronicle’ in Nov1908 and consolidating back at Murbah, where he persevered until Jan1910, finally surrendering to his competitor of the last 17yrs, ‘The Tweed Times & Brunswick Advocate’, then moving off to Queensland to grow bananas (and continue his advocacy of ‘White Australia’ through the bulletin he baptised ‘Nicko’s’). Millar (1869 Hamilton, Vic – 1930 Toogoolawah, Qld) sold out to Kenna & Munroe in Jan1914 and established the ‘Inverell Herald’ (making three newspapers now servicing Inverell). Francis Kenna (1865 Maryborough – 1932 Brisbane), Labor MLA for Bowen 1902-09, sold out to partner Munroe in May1917 and went 1 off to acquire the ‘Logan and Albert Bulletin’ at Southport. James Ellis Munroe, late of Sydney’s ‘Evening Telegraph’, was wiped out in the fire of 27Apr1920 and decided life as a shopkeeper at Murbah was a better career move (after a short stint as the Bangalow district’s ‘Northern Star’ representative). The Herald then went into hibernation until resurrected in Feb1922 by press photographer Robert James Herbert Belbin of Brisbane (and late of the Tweed Daily’s ‘Literary Staff’ 1918-19). He’d had enough by Mar1925 and was relieved by local resident Thomas Sample Laidley who was left homeless by the fire of 9Jan1931. Two months later he was farewelled to Queensland, leaving the Herald to enjoy a prolonged siesta. (For further history see the ‘Bangalow Herald’ issues of June and July 2020 at https://issuu.com/bangalowherald)

Burgess of the Bay promised that his 8 page foolscap weekly will be liberal in the widest acceptance of the term…, but had little news and for a long period relied on Murbah and Lismore advertisers to stay solvent, suggesting he had a day job (although Between them, he and his sister Eveline Maud, edited the paper, did the jobbing, kept the books and printed the “Record”…, implying a dedicated couple). Competition arrived in the form of Kenna & Munroe’s ‘Byron Bay Gazette’ in May1913, with Munroe (1890 Nymagee – 1965 Burwood) producing the paper from the Bangalow plant as the partnership’s ‘chief monoline operator’. He was sole proprietor in Apr1920 when the Gazette disappeared from the newsstands along with the ‘Bangalow Herald’, leaving Byron to Burgess.

Burgess sold the masthead, but not the office and plant in Shirley Lane, to Henry Barron Eastaughffe and Mrs Rebecca McNeill of Lismore in Apr1924 and retired to the family property, ‘Haxstead’, at Central Tilba, where Alfred was described as ‘a fine gentlemanly man’ in his 1938 obituary. After his Record office and plant were destroyed by the fire of 25Jan1925 news of the Bay’s goings-on was mainly at the whim of the Northern Star’s resident correspondent. Mrs McNeill opened the Byron Café in Lismore in Nov1924, but sold the place 12mths later, seemingly heavily in debt. Also in debt was Catholic Eastaughffe who launched the Lismore Leader, a double demy weekly…, in partnership with Presbyterian Theodore Baldwin Osborne, in Feb1926. The Northern Star laughed and shortly afterwards Henry, the son of Fred of the Dalby Herald, escaped to Brisbane, where he died 1944 aged 72.

Over at Mullum Plowright also had been struggling to earn a quid and was relieved to accept an offer from Presbyterian Norman James MacKinnon of Murbah in Jan1908, then moving on to establish The Wyong Record. Over the following years he owned, edited or worked at the Murrurundi Times, Merriwa and Cassillis Standard, Nyngan Observer and a stint in Braidwood before entering the afterlife from Newcastle.

Norm (1872 Taree – 1949 Southport), the son of Angus William Mackinnon and Annie Geddes Shearer, and the nephew of Donald and William Geddes Shearer of Myocum, had started in the business as an apprentice with Methodist W.R. Baker's Maclean Advocate. In 1888 he accompanied Baker to Murbah to launch the Tweed Times and Brunswick Advocate then wandered off to South Africa to shoot bores with Baker's son William. Around 1903 he returned to South Africa and joined the Transvaal Leader, where he met Scotsman George Cameron who accompanied him back to Australia in 1907, subsequently becoming his printing foreman.

By mid1909 Norm was also in trouble and happy to offload to Anglican Henry Josiah Holt (1854 Orange – 1916 Mullumbimby), then moving onto prominence at Pomona as proprietor of the Noosa Advocate and a director of Queensland Country Press. Henry, the brother-in-law of Frank James of Myocum, did his compositor apprenticeship with the Grafton-based Clarence and Richmond Examiner prior to becoming proprietor of Baker's Maclean Advocate. He stuck with the Mullumbimby Star until 1913, selling out to the Star’s earlier compositor, George Cameron, and retiring in Mullum, where he died in 1916 after a stint as an auctioneer, commission agent, Town Clerk and secretary of the Progress Association. He had moved the office back to Burringbar Street, on the northern side of the Nelson Building, in 1910 and also updated the printing technology, the old machinery sold to the Byron Bay Record. Transitional editor was Catholic Edwin Charles (Charlie) Uptin (1886 Rylston – 1922 Mullum) who seems to have remained in the job until early 1914. He was also Mullum Correspondent for the Presbyterian-flavoured Northern Star.

The Camerons brought some stability in ownership, first through Anglican Scotsman George (1878 Blairgowrie, Perthshire – 1920 Mullum), followed by his wife Muriel, nee Kilgour (1884 Cairns – 1976 Sydney). She was working in the ‘Model Store’ on the corner of Burringbar and Dalley when she caught George’s eye, their union blessed in Mullum’s Anglican Church Aug1909. The store’s owner, Presbyterian Scotsman Donald McAndrew Ross, brother-in-law of Mullum’s Presbyterian and Labor-leaning Mayor Hollingworth, gave the bride away. Donald was Mayor of Lismore and a leading member of the New Guard in Apr1931 when he initiated the sacking of Labor Premier Lang, an act strongly supported by Muriel’s Star. Her bridesmaid and fellow Ross employee was Miss Eleanor Cameron (1876 Sydney – 1950 Paddington), daughter of Scotsman Angus MLA. She went on to become an organizer with the Liberal and Reform League, her various exploits published in the Mullum Star over the ensuing years.

George was a printer and compositor of Falkirk in 1901 when he decided to emigrate, presumably to South Africa for a 2 couple of years before turning up in Mullum, perhaps with an interlude in Queensland. But in Sep1911 he took a promotion to the Tweed Herald at Murbah, only to return in Jul1913 to claim ownership of the Mullum Star. Thereafter the Star took its readers on an entertaining romp to the right, with patriotic George strident in his support for Conscription and White Australia, raining fire and brimstone on shirkers and bludgers, railing against Mullum apathy, and championing the cause of Separation and the Country Party The Model Store corner Burringbar and Dalley 1906. before there was a Country Party. But The store passed from Henry Bennett to Donald Ross Jan1907 and to Alf Thornton whether he reflected or led Aug1909. (Sydney Oyster Saloon, Byron Shire’s first Greek Cafe, opened next Bennett community attitudes is a moot point. mid1906. The shops were known collectively as the Simpson Buildings.) (Prior to his editorial pen Mullum could already boast the first ‘White Australia Café’ in NSW). Muriel’s tenure saw more emphasis on the exploits of women in the community.

George died 27Jun1920, aged 42, the death attributed to the lingering after-effects of a mild attack of the Spanish Flu. Deceased's was a death of unpleasant grandeur; exemplifying the great fact that his conscience was a most clear one…. In all matters he was an Australian.... In Jul1920 Leonard George McDonald, a printer, compositor and unionist with the Northern Star for the last 6yrs, and secretary of the Lismore sub-branch of the Printing Industry Employees’ Union and Basic Wage Defence League, was appointed editor-manager. But he only seems to have lasted ~8mths before returning to the Northern Star. In Mar1921 Muriel anointed William Baker, ex-editor of the Tweed Daily and the son of W.R. of Main Arm, as manager-editor. He resigned to take up a similar job with a Hughenden paper in ~Nov1921, followed by the Nanango News in May1922.

Muriel then gave the manager-editor job to the elusive John Thomas T.R. (Roy) Pritchard, who seems to have hung-in for most of the 1920s before joining The Labor Daily in Sydney. In 1923 Roy married local girl Grace Lillian Tuckerman, the 18yr old step-daughter of Richard Goodman Cox Lee, farmer of Main Arm and ex-butcher of Mullum. After Roy’s departure Muriel’s manager is a mystery, although Les Lindsay appears to have been a temporary editor in the late 1920s and Norm Rollo was apparently a regular reporter and occasional editor, assisted by Mrs Bertha Chew. Perhaps also supplying copy to the Star was Claude Alfred Mann, ex-proprietor of the Alstonville Record (Apr1916 - Sep1919), who was the Byron Bay- based district representative for both the Northern Star and Tweed Daily from 1922 until handing over to Mullumbimby- based Reginald Maurice Curnow in Jun1929. Reg moved to Murbah in 1935 to join the full-time staff of the Tweed Daily, becoming editor in 1948 and piloted the Tweed Daily through its transition to the Daily News.

But in the meantime Muriel managed to cut costs by halving her manpower requirements with installation of a linotype machine in late 1923, continuity provided by Robert George (Bob) Court, a Star employee since 1912, as operator and maintenance man. Bob (1896 Balmain – 1974 Hurstville), the son of Mullum baker Harry and Isabella, nee Crabbe, had completed his compositor apprenticeship with the Star prior to enlisting in 1916. He married Melba Jane Walmsley of Brunswick Heads at Mullum’s Anglican Church in 1922 and together they were active in civic affairs until Bob took up a position with the Kyogle Examiner in 1945. Also saving on manpower was Muriel’s introduction of powered machinery, initially by coupling to a benzine-fired internal combustion engine followed by an electric motor after Mullum’s hydro scheme was up and running in 1926.

On 17Nov1932 she informed her readers that after 25yrs she'd had enough and was selling out to 28yr old Methodist Milton Flint, ex-treasurer of the Tenterfield Branch of the Country Party, prompting the initial accolades from Mayor Latter that She had come here when only a girl and… carried on the business, always upholding the highest traditions of true citizenship, taking a keen interest in religious spheres and all matters pertaining to the welfare of the district.... At her public farewell at the School of Arts many eulogists from Mullum's who's who list sang her praises. She was separately farewelled from St Martin's where Rev Rowlands said She worked indefatigably for the erection of St Martin's.... We have found it necessary at St Martin's on account of the depression, and the number of people leaving the district, to discontinue presentations, but without going back on that rule, we are giving Mrs Cameron a little memento.... She retired to Sydney where she died 28Jan1976, then owner-editor Jim Brokenshire claiming that the Camerons… writings and views played a great part in the life of the Mullumbimby community….

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John Milton (‘Milton’) Flint (1904 Murrurundi - 1968 Scone) immediately changed the format of the paper, devoting two thirds of the front page to news rather than adverts, and announced that The new management of the "Star" (which included 19yr old editor Stanley Tunstall Stephens, a graduate of Murbah High, a star of the surf and a fellow devotee of the Country Party) wishes to foster co-operation among the citizens... and hopes to become the mouthpiece of a united Mullumbimby public.... In Jul1933 he became treasurer of the disunited School of Arts and in late 1933 secretary of the moribund Agricultural Society, but finding time to campaign for the Country Party, of which he became the Mullum branch secretary.

In Mar1935 he purchased the Withford Buildings in Dalley Street, next to Mrs Gray’s boarding house, enabling the housing of new newspaper machinery, which in Apr1935 produced a 12 pager with a broader coverage Lifesaver Squad 1937 (L to R: E. Healy, H. of Shire goings-on, but still maintaining the 3d price with which it was born. Wraight, W. Fitzgerald, S. Stephens) In Jan1936 he unveiled grand plans for a new newspaper to service the Bay and Bangalow - "The Byron Bay-Bangalow Advocate," will be... fearless in policy, being non-political and non-sectarian….

It was a gutsy decision in the face of the daily competition from the Northern Star and Tweed Daily already servicing the towns with a good coverage of local events, although not so patronized by local advertisers. The Northern Star averaged about 18 pages for 2d and often brought out omnibus editions of up to 30 pages, which was probably the catalyst for the 25Mar1936 announcement that To-day brings to a close "The Mullumbimby Star," as it has been known for 31 years of magnificent and devoted service as a weekly newspaper..., which will be enlarged in its operation and will merge its interests with the 'Byron Bay-Bangalow Advocate,’ and inaugurate a bi-weekly service.... (Thereafter the reports on Mullum and Byron appearing in the Northern Star started to look very similar to those published in the local rag, suggesting that the resident correspondent for the former was also supplying copy to the latter.)

In Jul1936 he sold out to his editor/manager, 23yr old Stanley Tunstall ('Steppa') Stephens (1913 Blayney – 1986 Lindfield), who promised A fearless policy of expression, by which the paper has lived through the years will be maintained.... In Aug1936 Milton Flint became the Advertising Manager of the Murbah- based Banana Bulletin, but continued to hold his other appointments in Mullum until moving to Lismore in Apr1937 to become Advertising Manager for the produce business of political aspirant E.J. Eggins, whose Country Party cause he had championed through the Star and as a member of the 'E.J. Eggins Campaign Committee' in the Sep1934 election.

In Dec1937 Steppa Stephens, new secretary of the Mullum Branch of the Country Party, resigned as secretary of the Surf Club owing to pressure of other business, at which time the 'new Star' was looking a little sad, reporting with reduced coverage Presbyterian Fellowship Association 1932 and clarity of district happenings, and Back Row L to R: J. Sheather, Stan Stephens, Allan Venn, Fred Graydon, Tom Graydon, Gordon by early 1939 had shrunk to a one Weaver, Garry Lancaster, George Boles, Ron Roberts. 2nd Rear: Mal Muirhead, Don McLennan, Harold Anderson, Rev Bert Wotherspoon, Arthur Snow, sheet rag of 4 pages. Mrs Wotherspoon, Bert Myerson, Nev Gibson, Bob Reddacliff, Mavis McCowan, Joyce Muirhead,

Clarrie Blanch. On April Fool's Day 1940 Presbyterian 3rd Row: Lilly McKenzie, Jean McCowan, Gladys Reddacliff, Nora Graydon, Phylis King, Julia Steppa Stephens sold the Mullum Graydon, Edna Gibson, Ally McLennan, Kath James. Star back to Methodist Milton Flint, Front Row: Eleanor Young, Daph Fenwick, Mercia Biddle, Olive Blanch, Nell NcCowan, Myra Biddle, as For some period it has been the Jean McLeod. 4 desire of... Mr S.T. Stephens to pursue military duties in view of the unsettled conditions abroad.... Shortly afterwards he went off to do 3mths training at Maitland with the 41st Battalion thence enlistment in the 2nd AIF for service abroad…, adding soldiering to his CV in preparation for a political career, which got underway with his election as MLA for Byron 27May1944. Flint chose to remain a Lismore-based absentee proprietor, while the Star's new masthead said 'Printed and Published by John Milton Flint and Robert Bruce Hensby'…. Silent partner Hensby (1918 Launceston – 1964 Newtown), manager of the paint department of E.J. Eggins Pty Ltd, enlisted 1942 and upon discharge took up banana growing at Coffs Harbour followed by signwriting in Lismore.

In the reorganisation of the work in the office, the publication of the "Star-Advocate" will be in the hands of Mr R.G. Court as manager.... Pending the arrival of a journalist to attend to the editorial work, Mr Colin Rees (a committeeman with the Mullum branch of the Country Party), district representative for the "Northern Star" Ltd and "Tweed Newspaper Co" (for the last 2yrs), will act as a reporter…. The Mullumbimby Star has been appointed to represent both and from the above date all business and other transactions may be carried on at the Mullumbimby 1950 1955 Steppa Stephens 1965 Star Office. The region's independent media came to resemble the independence of the Country Party At Mullum on Anzac Day 1970 Steppa said "We have heard much in candidates they all advocated. recent times about pollution of the earth, of air and of the water, but... we pollute young minds through radio, television, newspapers [Already helping to entrench the Country Party was and periodicals with emphasis too heavily upon sex.... the appearance of a new competing media vehicle in 1936 when Radio 2LM started broadcasting from Lismore and 2MW from Murwillumbah, established by the shareholders and directors of Northern Star Ltd and The Tweed Newspaper Co Pty Ltd. See potted history of the main regional media at http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~aliens/history/references.htm , under subheading ‘Newspapers’.]

In May1940 Roger Tomlinson turned up in Mullum to be the reporter for the 3 newspapers, but he enlisted 2mths later and was replaced by A.W. Beattie, who disappeared from the scene at some stage and was replaced by John Robert Wardrop, who enlisted in Jun1941 and handed over to Jack F. Whitby, who returned to the Maryborough Chronicle in Feb1944 after handing over to John Dalton, who got up the nose of Ald W.E. Smith for wilful misrepresentation and distortion... of a Mullum Council debate in Feb1945, then disappeared into the woodwork. (Tomlinson died Apr1980 Lismore, aged 65, after 28yrs with the Northern Star. And Beattie could be Alexander William Beattie of Casino who had some tie-up with the Richmond River Express, which temporarily ceased publication Apr1943 due ‘War Exigencies’). Another enlistee and past reporter Lyall Gardner, the son of grocer Stephen Gardner of Mullum, died as a Japanese POW Nov1943. With this high turnover in staff somebody forgot to do the archiving - the entire panoply for 1942 has gone walkabout and there are only 5 editions extant for 1945 and 21 for 1946, although sometime in 1945 the paper died until resurrected in October that year by the above Anglican J.R. Wardrop (1916 Lockhart – 1974 Sydney), who had married Amy Robison 1941 Mullum. She was the daughter of Scotsman Ebenezer who established a chemist shop in Burringbar Street just before WW1.

Wardrop had announced from Goulburn in Sep1945 that he'd purchased the paper from Milton J. Flint, Lismore, and that I will be resuming publication of the "Star" as soon as my release from the Army can be effected...."The Mullumbimby Star" will make its reappearance in completely New and Modern Dress..., which turned out to be a 6 to 8pg bi-weekly tabloid- format arrangement, still offered for 3d. In mid 1948 it became tri-weekly and was re-badged as the Mullumbimby and Byron Bay-Bangalow Star Advocate, with a Byron Bay office Staffed by Eric Jessup, and thereafter was more of a parochial community news sheet.

From 3Jul1950 the Mullumbimby "Star-Advocate" appears under the joint ownership and control of the former sole proprietor, J.R. Wardrop, and his new partner, A.F. (Alan Francis) Green, who recently resigned the news-editorship of the Sydney 'Daily Mirror'.... Their background will enable them to give Mullumbimby and district a stronger public medium - in other words a larger newspaper of better quality and wider news and advertising scope..., but nothing much changed except for a greater concentration on the affairs of the Bay, where development and change were proceeding at a greater pace than in and around Mullum. (The Wardrops left town in Jan1951, John ending up on the staff of the Goulburn Evening Post in Jul1952. Green died 1970 Sydney, aged 61, as the long-serving press secretary to Liberal Premier Askin.)

Socialist David Williamson Harrison (1904 Musselburgh, Scotland – 1989 Byron Bay), who is not unknown on the North 5

Coast, took over wef 20Dec1950 and managed/edited the Star from Brunswick Heads. Before the war he was director of the North Coast Tourist and Development Bureau.... Unfortunately, coinciding with the change-over, there comes into force in the New Year a higher advertising rate..., but the 3d price of the newspaper will remain the same for the time being. And In future the "Star-Advocate" will be published only twice weekly instead of tri-weekly.

As from to-day (31Jul1951) the near bankrupt Mullumbimby "Star-Advocate" will be under the ownership and management of 40yr old conservative widower Mr Jim Brokenshire of Woy Woy..., a returned soldier who has had wide experience as a newspaperman on the staff of the Newcastle "Herald" and the Maitland Mercury.... In Nov1951 he moved the Star from Dalley Street to its permanent home in the Nelson Building. But nothing much changed in the product, except a touch more sport on the front page and more space devoted to social goings-on inside, while Mullum news still got better coverage in the regional dailies. (And it's understood that David Harrison at Brunswick Heads, who became Cr Harrison of the Byron Shire Council in Dec1953, continued to supply Brokenshire with copy of Brunswick happenings, as well as furnishing the Northern Star with Bruns gossip. He was converted to conservatism on the road to retirement at Watego’s Beach, where he became President of the Byron Bay branch of the National Country Party in 1980.)

Out of the blue in Jun1964 James Walter Brokenshire (1911 Bishop’s Bridge, Maitland – 1993 Mullumbimby), the son of William of Cornwall, announced a

Jim Brokenshire (left) and Billy Walker major change: The new "compact" "Brunswick-Byron Advocate" will be examine horseshoes found at the former site distributed FREE of charge in Mullumbimby, Brunswick Heads, Byron Bay and of McGougan's blacksmithery, next NAB Bangalow.... A new automatic printing press and a folding machine was bank, 1970. introduced to replace the old hand-fed machine, facilitating the transition from the bi-weekly 'Mullumbimby Star Advocate' to the weekly 'Brunswick-Byron Advocate'.

Over the next 18mths he claimed that circulation had increased from less than 1000 to just under 3500, while the adverts had become larger, the amount of 'news' halved and the coverage of sport and religion doubled. Wef Feb1966 advertising rates increased from 8/- to 10/- per inch single column, and from 1/3 to 1/6 per line....

Englishman Kenneth Lancelot Hamlyn, the Byron correspondent for the Northern Star, supplemented his income upon winning the job of also supplying Brokenshire’s new Advocate with news of the Bay. In Nov1969 74yr old Ray Lindsay retired as the long-serving Mullum correspondent for the Northern Star and Daily News, the Mullum Advocate then (again?) becoming the 'local representative' in the district for the two newspapers, perhaps also implying that both papers relied on the informative Advocate for news of local happenings. For many years Ray’s wife Lilla wrote "Pen's Column” for the Daily News, providing the gossip on Mullum's Ray Lindsay 1948 Lilla Lindsay (nee West), 1948 social scene.

On 4Aug1976 65yr old Jim Brokenshire sold out to the 'Northern Star', but stayed on as 'managing editor' for another 4yrs while printing and distribution was carried out from Goonellabah. In Dec1976 he was boasting that circulation of the new bigger format paper had hit 6000 per week, and on 15Jun1977 that From today the distribution of the Advocate is being expanded to provide a saturation cover of Lennox Head and Ballina.... Coverage of Mullum doings suffered, but was compensated for by an increase in pictures of bikini girls. All the while a big social change had been going on, but these wondrous things - LBJ and all the way, Beatles, hippies, surfies, the pill, and on and on – had mostly passed the Advocate by.

In Nov1978 it became The North Coast Advocate and Summerland News... to better reflect the increased Ballina coverage..., and by Dec1979 was boasting a circulation exceeding Jim Brokenshire 1988, launching 13,000. Jim retired 31Dec1980, handing over to Graeme Wilkins who opened a third office, his book, The Brunswick; after those of Mullum and Ballina, at the Bay in Feb1981. By Dec1984 the circulation Another River and Its People. 6 hierarchy was claimed as Ballina 5490, Mullum 2405, Byron Bay 2130, Alstonville 1043, Brunswick Heads 910, Lennox Head 480, Bangalow 480 and Brunswick Valley Ocean Shores 430. In retirement Jim researched and wrote'The Brunswick: Historical Society Inc. Another River and its People', launched in Apr1988 during Heritage Week, Newsletter along with the official opening of the BVHS museum by newly elected Don Page This newsletter is written by and for MLA. the members of the BVHS Inc

17 Myokum St, Mullumbimby Newspaper competition had hotted-up with the launch of the ‘Byron News’ by P.O. Box 378 Mullumbimby 2482 Reg and Jean Wright in 1971, followed in Feb1973 by the counterculture 02 6684 4367 movement's very own mouth organ, 'The Byron Express', published at [email protected] www.mullumbimbymuseum.org.au Bangalow by Rusty Miller and David Guthrie, the first issue asserting that only Facebook: the Labor Party offers the hope of returning power to the people.... Alas, it died www.facebook.com/MullumbimbyMuse in Sep1973 after 7 issues. Then came the 'Brunswick Valley Echo' in Jun1986, um re-badged as the ‘Brunswick Byron Echo’ in Nov1987. Proprietors Nick Shand Patrons: Frank Mills OAM and David Lovejoy promised that they'll fill a vacuum in the news services Cr Basil Cameron devoted to this immediate area and finally repair the gap left by the departure President: Stephen Hall of the Advocate from Mullumbimby ten long years ago.... We are free and will Vice President: remain free of vested interests and are unaligned with any specific groupings Sarah Newsome Cor. Secretary: Susan Tsicalas in the community..., but will provide a platform for a new audience of godless Treasurer: Susan Tsicalas ‘alternate lifestylers’, inclusive of Green ideologists, virtue signallers, lying Committee Members: astrologists and the whole panoply of ‘New Age’ wankery. Chris Cooney, Roland Sjoberg [A history of the Echo is provided by co-founding theologist David Lovejoy at Shed Managers: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/6008626/echo-history-tweed- Roland Sjoberg shire-echo. Mullum’s remnant ‘mainstream lifestylers’ were perturbed at the Dave Sharonowitz. direction their conservative community was taking, reflected in the new social Market Manager: Sarah Newsome paradigm embodied by the Echo, leaving them without the comfort of Heritage Panel Representative traditional shibboleths until Harold Ross and Ross Tucker (re)launched the Chris Cooney Mullumbimby Star as an A4 weekly in 1997. Alas, the virus named ‘New Newsletter: Corporate Culture’ had already escaped quarantine, the Ross remedy mutating Members into the monthly Saturday Star along the way to the intensive care ward.] Public Officer: Susan Tsicalas.

In Jul1986 Reg Wright handed management of the Byron News to son John, All members are invited to who expanded the circulation to cover the entire Byron Shire, formally taking contribute to this over as printer and publisher in Jan1988. In the meantime the Advocate, along newsletter Please email contributions for the with the Northern Star stable, passed through the hands of Westfield newsletter to Corporation (Sep1986) into the Australian Provincial Newspapers group, [email protected] which, wef Oct1987, now wholly owns The Northern Star, North Coast *Deadline for newsletter items Advocate, Richmond River Express (Casino), Coffs Harbour Advocate, The Daily Friday 30 September 2020 Examiner (Grafton) and the Daily News (Murbah)... and The Byron News wef 1995. Then along came News Corp, completing its takeover of APN in Dec2016 NEXT MEETING and ceasing publication of hardcopy editions of its local rags wef Jun2020, Tuesday 13th October 2020 leaving the Echo triumphant and the remnants of the once venerable 144yr @10.30am old Northern Star to be digested digitally.

MUSEUM HOURS – Tuesdays [See David Lovejoy’s take on The loss of local newspapers and what it means to and Fridays the North Coast in the Echo of 2Jul2020 – at 10.00-12.00 https://www.echo.net.au/2020/07/the-loss-of-local-newspapers-and-what-it- Market Saturdays 9.00 - 1.00 means-to-the-north-coast/ (And wonder how he’ll cater for a new wave of MULLUMBIMBY COMMUNITY 'urban refugees' and 'lifestyle seekers', predicted in the wake of Coronavirus, MARKET into a town already home to an excess of nationally newsworthy anti-vaxxers, Next Market- Saturday 19th G5 and Covid-19 conspiracists, holistic wellness gurus (inclusive of colonic September irrigationists and craniosacral balancers), gaian philosophisers, climate mullummarkets.com.au catastrophisers…, and a few remaining Gough Groupies and nostalgic Country Party loyalists crying out for a return to the good ‘ol days when people wore shoes and the Mullum Star/Advocate was a benign proselytiser.)] Peter Tsicalas

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Bellevue Boarding House A query by a Wakely descendant led us on a merry chase to locate the Bellevue Boarding House at Brunswick Heads.

Gerard Stephenson Wheat (1865 Totley Dale, Derbyshire, England – 1939 Waverley, NSW) owned most of the business section of the town. He bought the hotel property (1902) with other blocks, including Wakely’s store site, etc., for £350... and paid £10 for a half acre block next Wakely’s store…. He sold the Ocean View Hotel to Michael Currie in Nov1905 and ~12mths later acquired the London House Boarding House before embarking on construction of the Bellevue Temperance Hotel, which got a rave review from the Northern Star of 2Oct1909:

SEASIDE RESORT An advertisement in another part of today’s issue brings under notice the fine new boarding house just completed at the Brunswick Heads by Mr. G. Wheat. It is to be known as the Bellevue Temperance Hotel, and will be under the management of Mrs. Wheat, who is well and favourably known throughout the district, having efficiently conducted similar establishments at the Brunswick in the past. The Bellevue occupies an ideal situation, being within a stone's throw of the river, and commands an excellent view of the bar and ocean. The bedrooms are large and airy, and they are sheltered by a spacious verandah, which runs right round the house. Acetylene gas is laid on throughout, and, in addition to the ordinary rooms, a comfortable lounge and smoking room is provided. Stabling is also available; in fact, no expense has been spared to bring the place right up to date. We have no doubt that Mrs. Wheat, will have plenty of patronage during the coming season.

The boarding house had 21 rooms and at the height of the holiday season could accommodate up to 50 people. It was the largest boarding house in Brunswick Heads, built at a cost of £1400. In the same year the Ocean View Hotel added a 2-storey accommodation block of 15 rooms. Mrs Wheat began an ads blitz in the Bellevue Temperance Hotel The above New and Up-to-date House occupies the finest situation at this famous Northern Star and The Richmond watering place, commanding a splendid view of the ocean and river. River Express & Casino Kyogle Handy to the water for bathing, boating and fishing. Advertiser up to and over the Everything new and clean. Fine large airy, bedrooms, with spacious verandahs. Christmas holidays 1909/1910 and Every, convenience, including stabling. onto Easter 1910. In 1913 she For terms, apply. advertised in The Brisbane Courier, Mrs. G. WHEAT, Brunswick Heads. Mullumbimby Star and Tweed Daily.

On 20Nov1913 Mrs W.J. Phillips purchased the lease and goodwill from Mrs Wheat and ran the establishment until 1916. (The Wheats then moved to Sydney, although visiting regularly, staying at the Bellevue during 1914 & 1916). Mrs Phillips was also an avid advertiser, including a venture into the pages of Wise’s Phone Directory of 1915 below. It is the only photo we have found to date.

For the visually challenged, the blurb reads: Overlooks a shallow area of the river, which, being free from all dangers of sharks and treacherous currents, is an ideal bathing ground for women and children. Two minutes only from the main beach of the Pacific. Fishing, boating, sun-bathing, and oyster gathering at the front door. Coach passes daily, to railway station, Mullumbimby near P.O. The house is dry, and has a fine verandah. All bedrooms have ventilation into the fresh outer air. Good table. Every convenience, courtesy, and homely attention. Tariff on application to Mrs W.J. Phillips.

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“BELLEVUE” WANTED KNOWN Boarding Establishment That Mrs John Wakely has taken over “BELLEVUE” Brunswick Heads BOARDING ESTABLISHMENT at Brunswick Heads, recently

Mrs W. Phillips conducted by Mrs Philips. Letters and telegrams promptly

(Late Mrs G. Wheat) attended to. [Typical advert placed by [Advert in the Northern Star of 15May1916 heralding Mary Mrs Phillips in the Tweed Wakely as the new lessee.] Daily 1914-1916]

Next to run the establishment was Mrs H.E. Johnson who purchased the lease and goodwill from Mrs J. Wakely, jnr., on 1 Nov 1917. SUNDAY AT BRUNSWICK HEADS A dip in the Blue Pacific and then A GOOD DINNER at “BELLEVUE” Dinner at 1 0’clock – 2s MENU: Turkey, Duck, Pork Pie, Plum Pudding; Stewed Fruits Apple Pie and Jelly. -Tea, Coffee, or Cocoa – AFTERNOON TEA A SPECIALITY [This advert by Mrs Johnson accompanied the ‘takeover story’ in the Mullum Star. Mrs J. Wakely (Mary) and her daughter Isabel on the In Jan 1918 Mrs Johnson advertised for a good cook and a verandah of the Bellevue, 1917. good laundress, offering respective wages of 30s and 25s. (Courtesy of Rosemary Harrigan)

A monster sale of the household furniture and effects from the Bellevue, including a piano and an organ, was held on 26Apr1918, presumably meaning that Mrs Johnson was no longer running the place. On 24May1918, Mr Wheat sold the Bellevue for £1425 to Mr Beamish who immediately on-sold it to Mr J. Lyons at an increased price. Mrs Lyons, of North Arm, Tweed River, then refurnished and reopened the boarding house, subsequently leasing the business to her sister Mrs D. Hunter.

All went well until the night of 17Feb1922 when the whole place was destroyed by fire, the sorry tale recorded thus:

GUEST HOUSE BURNED - Blaze at Brunswick Heads - Occupants' Narrow Escape One of the largest hoarding houses at Brunswick Heads, known as "’Bellevue" was completely destroyed by fire during the early hours of yesterday morning. The building, which was of wood, contained 21 rooms, and all but three were bedrooms. Nothing was saved, and only the brick chimneys remain. The occupants had a great escape, and got clear of the burning building wearing only their night attire. The place was leased by Mrs. D. Hunter, who with her husband and little daughter occupied the front bedroom, which was situated in a portion of the house removed from the seat of the outbreak. The only other occupants of the house were Mrs. Lyons…, and her two young daughters, aged 8 and 4 years. About 2.45 a.m. Mr. Hunter was awakened by the smell of smoke in the bedroom. The inmates were aroused, and the flames had then reached the room occupied by Mrs. Lyons and the other children. Mrs. Lyons got her children and herself out clothed in night attire, and less than a minute afterwards the room was in flames. Mr. Hunter struggled back along the hall and out of the front door. It was a race for life. Just as he reached the door a tongue of flame from the ceiling above burst through the main entrance. Mr. Hunter states that he fell to the ground almost overcome by the smoke, but he managed to reach safety just in time to see the whole building enveloped. Mrs. Hunter carried a little girl out in a blanket, and, returning, was able to grasp a couple of suit cases which were ready packed for a journey she was to undertake next morning. It is supposed that the fire started in the kitchen, but the origin is a mystery. The building and furniture, owned by Mrs. Lyons, were insured. Mr. Hunter lost the whole of his furniture and belongings, which were uninsured. During the busy holiday season, the house usually accommodated upwards of 50 people. Mrs. Lyons lost her purse in the flames. It contained a considerable sum in notes.

Unfortunately, in all the advertisements and notices in the papers, at no time was the address of the establishment recorded. There are very few photos of early Brunswick Heads with street scenes to try to decide on its location, but going by the description that it was within a stone’s throw of the river and commands an excellent view of the bar and ocean, it was likely sited on the corner of Mullumbimbi and Park Streets. 9

In this view from 1909/1910 the building on the far right looks like the Bellevue, going by the chimney and the front peak.

In Jan1929 Mr Fisher of Mullumbimby had a house built on one of the blocks carved off from the Bellevue site. Later in that year he applied to have an entrance constructed to his property. Mr and Mrs Wheat were living at Woy Woy and continued to visit the Heads, their presence being recorded in the papers in 1927, 1933 and 1935.

If anyone knows the definite location of the Bellevue Boarding House please let us know.

Go to mullumbimbygateway.com & uplift.love/news/uplifting-mullum-gateway for the stories of the gateway. SEPTEMBER MULLUMBIMBY MARKET The market will be held this month on Saturday 19th September. Stallholders, to trade at the market, please ensure that you go to the market website, fill in the Stallholder Requirements Form and forward to us prior to the market. Any members who can help on the day it would be much appreciated so that we have a Covid safe market for members, volunteers, stallholders and patrons. Looking forward to a much missed market!

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